Black Sabbath founding members to receive Birmingham's Freedom of the City award

Birmingham City Council is set to present the founding members of Black Sabbath with the Freedom of the City award for “exceptional service to the city.”

The recipients are expected to be confirmed on Tuesday, recognising Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Terence Butler and Bill Ward. The council is also anticipated to award late poet Benjamin Zephaniah with the City of Birmingham Medal.

“I’m a proud Brummie from Aston through and through. I’m still amazed to this day that no one outside of Birmingham can understand a word I say, but that’s always made me laugh,” said Osbourne in a statement. “My only regret is that my mom and dad are not here to see what I became. Birmingham for ever!”

His wife, Sharon Osbourne, spoke with BBC Radio West Midlands about the honour.

“It means a lot to him, it really does, to be recognised from his home. He’s very excited,” she said. “He couldn’t quite believe it, he thought I was winding him up. He said: ‘Really, me? But I’ve been in prison!’”

Osbourne, raised in Birmingham, helped found Black Sabbath in the city. While he currently lives in the US, health complications have prevented him from moving back.

“He really, really wants to come home and that’s what been a bit tough, because each time he’s made arrangements to come, something happens,” she said. “We’re not home here. It’s not where we’re from, it’s not what we are. People here have been fantastic to Ozzy, but it’s not his home.”

Osbourne plans to donate his awards and platinum discs to a museum in the city.

“It belongs in Birmingham, it needs to stay in Birmingham,” said Sharon Osbourne. “He owes so much to Birmingham, it’s his blood, that’s who he is.”